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Mike White's high school sports chat: 03.16.21
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Mike White
11:32
I don't know if any of them has a "good" chance. They wouldn't be among my favorites to win it. As for Mohawk, what a great two years for Warriors. Two consecutive championships. Yes, definitely an upset beating North Catholic. But they did only lose to North Catholic by 9 the second time they played North Catholic. So it wasn't like Mohawk was a tomato can.
Hoops fan
11:33
Hey Mike, how about coach Blundo winning another title. 7 out of 10 years is pretty special. Also congrats to Ellwood city and also Nesh and Mohawk girls.
11:34
It would be nice to see the wpial bring home some state titles this year. Which teams do think have best chances ?
Mike White
11:36
First question. Yes, coach Blundo is one of the greatest of all time. Where is the statue going of him?
Second question. I would say OLSH boys, Char Valley girls and North Allegheny girls have best chances.
Todd
11:36
In all seriousness, I think Mohawk and Neshannock girls’ teams have a legitimate shot at making it to Hershey, but once they get there you are forced to deal with the recruiters from the East.  What do you think?
Mike White
11:37
I think I'm tired of talking about all the "recruiters." That's what I think.
Hoops fan
11:37
A few years ago you said on this chat that it might be time for a statue or Ralph Blundo. Well he won 2 more. Maybe it is time for that statue.
Mike White
11:38
See above. Will the statue have a beard? He said he hasn't shaved beard off in three years. Just trimmed it. Wife, Kate, apparently doesn't like clean face. It does make him look harder than he really is.
Guest
11:38
Great weekend of basketball.  I was surprised while watching the 2A boys that it seemed as though no adjustments were made to help DiMichele with the diamond and one.  He did score 19 I think but most of those were in transition.  With them moving on to states, I sure help they prepare better because I think I maybe saw 2 or 3 screens set.
Mike White
11:40
Is this a member of Jake DiMichele family? I saw them run him off some screens. And hey, sometimes in a box and one or triangle and two, sometimes you run some things but say, "OK, you wanna take him out of the game, my other guys will beat you?" I mean didn't OLSH win by about 20. So what's the problem?
Tommy Jones
11:40
Can you ever answer a question without being ignorant when someone says something about a catholic school? They must be paying you a lot
Mike White
11:40
The salary is pretty good. I can't complain.
11:42
But how long do we want to keep going over this? Everyone knows the system. It's not changing. People have tried to change it. It's not going to change. And over here is nothing compared to Philly. And you don't think some public schools haven't benefited greatly from transfers, too? C'mon, man.
11:45
But back to the Catholic school thing. Many Catholic school fans or parents, like at Central Catholic, think I'm against them. Many people on this chat seem to think I'm for Catholic schools. Ever think I'm not for or against them?
Luck of the Panthers
11:45
USC getting Covid before a chance to make some significant damage at States is the most USC thing ever. This HS athletics programs are cursed. Cursed I say. Cursed
Mike White
11:47
Please. Many school have had it much, much worse than Upper St. Clair. Don't cry for USC. Honestly, they got their main goal - the WPIAL title. Chances of them winning state title were slim at best.
BallMan
11:48
What is the road New Castle faces to get to the state title game? If they get there, who would be coming out of the East in 5A?
Mike White
11:48
Crestwood at Chester/West Chester Rustin winner
Bangor at District 12 winner
Shikellamy at Lower Dauphin
DuBois/Cathedral Prep winner at New Castle
Those are the teams in the 5A bracket.
Guest
11:48
Archie Miller out at Indiana. What happened there? And will he and his brother be running basketball camps together this summer instead of coaching college basketball?
Mike White
11:51
Ha ha. What happened was he didn't win enough? Looked like a great hire when they got him. I've come to believe you can never be sure about any hire any more. Guys I thought were sure bets to be successful in college didn't make it. I thought Archie was a great fit. I remember talking to him a few years ago when he was at a WPIAL game to see Ethan Morton. We talked and he remarked how the pressure to win at Indiana is immense. I'm sure it is. Kind of sad to see him go.
Pants!
11:51
I'm on record as saying Groetsch (NA), Westphal (BP), Malcolm (CV), Pavalek (Beaver) and Julian (Mohawk)
Mike White
11:52
I'm on record as saying there are three definites, but we'll wait to see on the others. I'm not saying what three are definites, but you can guess. Naming Fab 5 kids now is not a good thing. Just gets you in trouble and causes problems.
Canes
11:52
Mike, how about some love for NC. New Castle now 14 wpial rings and coach Blundo 7 in last 10 yrs
Mike White
11:53
You're right. I don't think myself or Post-Gazette has written anything good or positive about New Castle or Ralph. Go have some lunch.
HA HA HA
11:54
"The Dribbler" picked Pine Richland to win. They didn't. Does he ever get tired of being wrong ? (i kid...mostly)
Mike White
11:54
I don't know. I'll ask him. Why do you think it's me?
RochyPride
11:54
Great job covering the WPIAL titles by you guys  but I was disappointed that neither you or Brad Everett were at the Rochester West Greene game. Seems like all the other games had a strong showing from the Post Gazette excerpt 1A girls which featured some awesome players like Corynne Hauser & the Robison sisters from Rochester & Jersey Wise, Anna Durbin from West Greene.
Mike White
11:56
Well, we had a Post-Gazette person covering every championship game Monday night with a separate story on every game. We had a separate story on the Rochester game written by a Post-Gazette person. So it got the same treatment as every other game last night. Brad was there watching some of it. He covered the second game. And believe it or not, we really can't be in two gyms at the same time. I was at North Allegheny covering a game.
The Ghost of Timbo Past...
11:56
Any more word on whether USC will be able to play this weekend?
Mike White
11:57
Nothing yet. I think players are supposed to get tested tomorrow.
Beaver area
11:58
Do the beaver girls have a chance to get to and/or win a state championship?
Mike White
11:58
No, no chance at all. I suggest they just hand in the uniforms.
Frankie Avalon and the 4 Seasons
11:58
Any thoughts on USC’s (or PR’s) chances to advance beyond one game in piaa playoffs? Level of play in District 3 is similar to wpial, but District 1 and 12 significantly better.
Mike White
11:59
Well if they win the first one, they would play either Scranton or Reading. I know Reading is very good. Then you also have either Roman or Archbishop Wood on the eastern side. Like I said earlier, slim, slim chance of USC or Pine to win 6A. But hey, why not give it a shot.
Wpial 14
11:59
Mike how crazy is it that Ralph Blundo and New Castle have won 7 wpial rings in 10 years
Mike White
12:02
Really, really impressive. One of the great coaches of all time. But I'm going to say something. This isn't to knock Ralph's accomplishments. But this isn't like the olden days. With six classes, it's just a fact that it's a little easier to win titles. Ralph will even tell you that. If there were only three classes, like when Ed McCluskey coached at Farrell, no way Ralph wins seven titles. And there's nothing wrong with that. Just the way it is. It's still a remarkable feat, even with six classes.
Welsh Corgi Fan
12:02
Watch out for Berlin Bros. Valley in boys’ class A. If they get by Farrell, they’ll play Canevin. They beat Canevin earlier...but this time the game is at BC. Should be a good one.
Mike White
12:03
Hey you're a Welsh Corgi Fan? I like you already. I am proud owner of a Corgi. They shed like crazy, but tremendous. It will be tough for Canevin to shed Berlin Bros.
Joe
12:04
Mike, regarding your thought on semi finals being one of the best times in WPIAL sports what is your take in a non covid year to having the title game also at a neutral site instead of college sites?
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